I’m being persecuted over 2019 – Lamido

Barely three days in prison with his two sons over alleged fraud, immediate past governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has claimed that he is being persecuted because of the 2019 presidency.

Speaking through his media aide, Umar Kyari, Lamido blamed those who feel that they would not be able to actualise their presidential ambition in 2019 with him around the political arena for his ordeal.

The former governor indicated interest to contest the last presidential election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but later stepped down for ex-President Goodluck Jonathan. He is said to be warming up for the 2019 presidency.

Lamido and his sons, Aminu and Mustapha were arraigned before a Federal High Court in Kano on Thursday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for receiving N1.35 billion kickback from a government contractor.

The trial judge, Justice Evelyn Anyadike ordered that they be remanded in Kano Prisons till September 28 when their bail application is to be heard because the EFCC said it lacked enough facilities to accommodate them.

But, Lamido insisted that it was clear from the onset that there was a grand design to put him away in prison for a long time under the guise of money laundering and sundry charges so as to pave the way for his political enemies to have their way.

Read also: Lamido, sons go to prison; Ohakim’s fate in balance

He drew the attention of Nigerians and the international community to the attempt being made by political enemies to silence him using the instrumentality of the EFCC, saying he remains a scion of accountability and integrity who has always fought on the side of the people, particularly the downtrodden and the vulnerable.

“He remains unshaken over the trumped-up charges slammed on him by the EFCC knowing that he has not committed any offence to warrant being thrown into the prison over a bailable offence. But the refusal by his traducers to grant him and his sons bail when others charged same day and time for even more grievous offences were admitted to bail speaks volume of the intention and mindset of those who are after him.

“Nonetheless, Sule Lamido strongly believes that, after being imprisoned several times all in a bid to pave the way for sustained democracy in Nigeria, the current effort by the EFCC and others to humiliate him and his family over the so-called money laundering charges will not break his resolve to continue to fight on the side of the people,” Kyari said.

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